breastmilk, applejuice and digestibility

[Cait]

Hi Mamas~
I'm not sure if this is the right place to ask this.....but....
an anesthesiologist just told me that applejuice(and popcicles or jello...ick) is more digestible before and after anesthesia for my soon to be 3 yo, than breastmilk. Is this so? It seems 'not right' to me. I understand that breastmilk is considered a 'particulate' and their concern is to stay with clear liquids, nevertheless, it seems healthier in most ways I can think of than artificial colors and the rest of whatever mystery things are in the alternatives. We're facing this challenge and I am having a hard time not only believing it, but also working out how to tell my little fella no nursing for what will be, for him, an extended period of time.
Can someone direct me to further reading? I seem to be pulling up info only on mothers undergoing anesthesia, rather than the children.

thank you in advance for your thoughts and help

cait

[Pat Robinson]

Everything I've ever read or heard considers breastmilk as a "clear liquid" before anesthesia. And that nothing within four hours by mouth is allowed.

Per La Leche League:

"Although some doctors require that a patient be given nothing by mouth (NPO) for eight hours before surgery, the American Association of Anesthesiologists recommend only a four hour restriction for human milk. Different hospitals put human milk into different categories, which affects the length of time breastfeeding is restricted.

Recent studies indicate that a more reasonable fasting time before surgery for children is six hours for formula (Spear 1992), three hours for human milk, and two hours for clear liquids (Nicholson and Schreiner 1995; Litman 1994; Schreiner 1994). "

http://www.llli.org/FAQ/anesthesia.html


Pat

[Cait]

thank you Pat!! that article is just what I needed and gives further resources too! Now to share it with the anesthesiologist and see what we can do. We have until the end of April or...forever...lol...to whittle it down.

thank you again!

(still reading all those other great links, back with questions soon)

hth

cait